Review: The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾

 On Wednesday the 4th of May I had the pleasure of attending The Queens Theatre's production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾.  I would like to preface this review by saying that as a 22¼ year old, I came into this show knowing next to nothing about the source material, yet this didn't negatively impact my experience at all. Indeed, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ is a musical that is fun for all generations, even if you're a bit too young to have seen the original series (or to have been alive in the 80's). 

The musical was originally written by Jake Brunger with music and lyrics by Pippa Cleary. Whilst the show doesn't necessarily have a strictly linear plot and the story doesn't have the highest of stakes, its simplicity adds to the charm of the production. It truly feels like we are reading Adrian's diary, snippets of a young boys life, which of course wouldn't entail high scale adventures but everyday issues, such as puberty, divorce and girl trouble. Adrian Mole presents an uplifting and heartwarming tale, while maintaining the comical aspects that were essential to the original source. The humour was more subtle than some other famed comedy musicals but it was witty and there were a few moments which left me laughing out loud, such as the nativity scene. The music too was great. Whilst some ballads were somewhat forgettable, the group numbers allowed the musical to really shine, many were catchy and exciting, my particular favourite songs being Misunderstood and Take a Stand, which made me want to sing along despite not knowing any of the lyrics. Additionally the actors doubling up as the band was extremely effective. Whilst the instruments were a slight distraction in some scenes and took away elements of immersion, the overall the sense of connection and intimacy that is brought by the actor band is worth the sacrifice of a few awkward exchanges. 

The acting talent in this production was also phenomenal. James Hameed did a wonderful job at conveying a believable teenage protagonist. He brought a sense of earnestness to Adrian that felt real and genuine, perfectly portraying a boy who knows it all, yet knows so little at the same time. Sally Cheng also gave a brilliant performance as Pandora. Cheng maintained perfect comedic timing throughout, with exaggerated expressions and a great accent she really brought life to Pandora and produced a truly funny  and endearing female character which is so often absent from even comedy musicals. Another comedic performance that stood out was Laura Redding as Doreen, her performance of New Best Friend was hilarious and had the whole audience in stitches. The level of acting quality in this production in general was extremely impressive with every performer producing a believable character, each with an excellent comedic presence. 

Finally the production is brought together wonderfully by excellent direction, choreography and scenery. I loved how the stage space was used throughout the show, one moment which stuck in my mind was when a tiny sofa seated all of Adrian's friends and family, despite there being far more stage space around them. This really allowed the audience to draw on how important they are to Adrian and how their lives intertwine with one another because of him. I also enjoyed the use of the the bright coloured doors which allowed flawless transitions between rooms and scenes, whilst bringing a sense of youth and excitement which should always be present in a coming of age show like Adrian Mole. 

Adrian Mole was an impressive Queen's Theatre production and reminded me that local productions are often just as good as the West End.